Cross Question

lubadub · July 4, 2014

I have read that when making a cross if when you emasculate a blossom you remove the sepals, petals and anther that there is no need to cover the blossom as it will no longer be attractive to bees and other insects and thus the likelihood of inadvertent pollination is essentially nonexistent. Do all of you cover emasculated blossoms or not?

**Lee** · July 4, 2014

http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/Tomato/xingtom.html

This is probably the best page to get all the answers you need with regards to crossing.

For a direct answer, remove anther cones only and always cover to prevent cross pollination from bees.

Lee

**carolyn137** · July 4, 2014

For the amateur home breeder the link Lee gave you is outstanding.

But I think it's interesting to mention that with most commercially bred tomato varieties that now they use male steriles and apply the desired pollen directly on the stigma.

That removes the very labor intensive step of emasculating blossoms.

Carolyn, who notes to Marv that when at Keiths website start first under the title of Culture and look for the links on how to do crosses and then what genetic segregation is all about and then how many generations it takes to stabilize a selection. Finally, the bulbs for the black tulips that you sent me gave superb blooms this spring.

lubadub · July 4, 2014

Thank you again and I am so glad you liked the black tulips. Would you like some of the purple ones to go along with the black? I also have some of the orange ones that you sent me long ago. I heard you are developing some rainbow colored ones?

July 4, 2014	#1
lubadub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: PA Posts: 169	Cross Question I have read that when making a cross if when you emasculate a blossom you remove the sepals, petals and anther that there is no need to cover the blossom as it will no longer be attractive to bees and other insects and thus the likelihood of inadvertent pollination is essentially nonexistent. Do all of you cover emasculated blossoms or not? __________________ Bigger is Better!

July 4, 2014	#2
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,186	http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/Tomato/xingtom.html This is probably the best page to get all the answers you need with regards to crossing. For a direct answer, remove anther cones only and always cover to prevent cross pollination from bees. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

July 4, 2014	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	For the amateur home breeder the link Lee gave you is outstanding. But I think it's interesting to mention that with most commercially bred tomato varieties that now they use male steriles and apply the desired pollen directly on the stigma. That removes the very labor intensive step of emasculating blossoms. Carolyn, who notes to Marv that when at Keiths website start first under the title of Culture and look for the links on how to do crosses and then what genetic segregation is all about and then how many generations it takes to stabilize a selection. Finally, the bulbs for the black tulips that you sent me gave superb blooms this spring. __________________ Carolyn

July 4, 2014	#4
lubadub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: PA Posts: 169	Thank you again and I am so glad you liked the black tulips. Would you like some of the purple ones to go along with the black? I also have some of the orange ones that you sent me long ago. I heard you are developing some rainbow colored ones? __________________ Bigger is Better!